Shock absorber for cable tool drilling machines



Sept. 20, 1949. N. N. LABOUNSKY 2,432,114

NOW BY JUDICIAL CHANGE OF NAME N. N. NIXON SHOCK ABSORBER FOR CABLE TOOLDRILLING MACHINES Filed Nov. 18, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept- 20, 1949-N. N. LABOUNSKY NOW BY JUDICIAL CHANGE OF NAME NIXON SHOCK ABSORBER FORCABLE TOOL DRILLING MACHINES Filed Nov. 18. 1946 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5fiw w ATTOF/VFYS Patented Sept. 20, 1949 I SHOCK ABSORBER FOR CABLE TOOLDRILLING MACHINES Nicholas N. Labounsky, Beaver Falls, Pa., now by:judicial change of name Nicholas N. Nixon, as-

signor to Keystone Driller Company, Beaver Falls, Pa.

7 Application November 18, 1946, Serial No. 710,480

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a shock absorber which may be used forabsorbing shock between two relatively movable members of differentkinds of apparatus, but is shown in the present example of one of itsuses in connection with relatively movable parts of a cable tooldrilling machine.

The object of this invention is to provide an economical and simpleoperating device which will absorb the shock peculiar to spuddingdrilling and give the necessary reach or stretch in the drilling lineessential to the drilling operation with cable tools.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation, on a reduced scale, of a portable drillingmachine embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the mast or derrick of thedrilling machine, on an enlarged scale, showing the shock absorbercontaining this invention associated therewith.

'Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section, on a still larger scale, ofthe shock absorber made in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section, on a still largerscale; showing the retarding valve mechanism whereby the flow of liquidin this shock absorber is retarded and caused to produce a shockabsorbing efiect, said section being taken on line 44, Fig. 5.

Figs. 5 and 6 are horizontal sections taken on the correspondinglynumbered lines in Fig. 4.

In the following description similar reference characters indicate likeparts in the several figures of the drawings.

In general, the drilling machine which is shown I in Figs. 1 and 2 andillustrates one installation of the present invention is constructed asfollows:

The main frame of the machine is portable and comprises the horizontalsills I0, front and rear posts II, I2 and braces I3.

The spudding mechanism of the driller includes a vertically oscillatingwalking beam I4 which is pivoted at its rear end on the rear post I2 andconnected at its front end with a slide l5 movable vertically on thefront post I I.

The derrick or mast consists generally of a lower section I6 which ismounted on the slide I5 and an upper section I I which is verticallyadjustable on the lower section. The numeral I8 represents the head ofthe derrick which is slidable on the upper section I! thereof andcarries the usual crown sheave I9. The operating line, consistingpreferably of a steel cable, passes over the crown wheel and has a frontstretch 20 extending downwardly and connected with the drill 2| and a.rear stretch 22 extending downwardly and around a front sheave 23 on thewalking beam I4 thence rearwardly and downwardly around a rear sheave 24and thence around a drum 25'from which the cable is payed off as theiii) 2 drilling progresses and also serves to hoist the drill 2 I.

During the operation of the driller,'the drill is raised as by the beam,as the latter moves downwardly and when the beam moves upwardly thedrill descends by gravity. This produces alter nate jerking andslackening on the cable and jars the apparatus and causes undue wear andstrain.

The sh-ockabsorber embodying this invention is designed to reduce oreliminate this jarring action and is interposed between the head andupper section of the derrick and in its preferred form the same isconstructed as follows:

The numeral 26 indicates an upright cylinder,

the interior of which forms a pressure chamber 21 which contains themeans whereby the shock to which the apparatus is subjected duringoperation is taken up. This cylinder is closed at its lower end by alower or front head 28 which is connected with brackets or cross pieces29 forming part of the upper derrick section. At its upper end thecylinder is closed by an upper or rear head 30 and also with a fillingopening 3| through which oil or other suitable liquid is introduced intothe pressure chamber and which is normally closed by a screw plug 32 orsimilar closure. When desired, the oil may be withdrawn from thepressure chamber through a drain opening 9 in the lower head of thecylinder which is normally closed by a screw plug 8.

Within the cylinder and fitting closely the bore thereof is a piston orplunger 33 which is adapted to reciprocate lengthwise therein and whichis connected with the lower or front end of a piston rod 34. The latterslides through a stufiing box arranged on the upper head 30 0f thecylinder 26 and having a gland B B which surrounds the piston 34 so asto form a tight joint between the piston rod and .the cylinder. Theupper end of the piston rod is provided with a cap 35 which is connectedwith the lower end of the sliding head I8 upon which the crown wheel I9is mounted. During the pulling action of the cable which raises thedrillthe piston is forced downwardly in the pressure chamber of'thecylinder 26 and displaces the absorbing oil in the lower part of thepressure chamber and also compresses resilient absorbing means which arearranged in the lower part. of the pressure chamber between the lower orfront head thereof and the piston. As the piston descends, part of theliquid in the cylinder belowthe piston squeezes through the check valve43 and passes into the upper part or above thecheck valve into the pipe34, so that the combined resistance of the spring means and the liquidabsorbs the shock on the machine which is produced at this time by themechanism actuating the drill.

. Although the spring absorbing means may be openedposition exceptin oneinstance when the shock absorber isin a horizontal or travelingposition. At this time the cock-valve is closed in order to prevent oilfrom being wasted from main are arranged, respectively, at the front andrear ends of the row of groups. Each of these-spring groups includes arelatively heavy outer helical spring 36 and a relatively light innerhelical spring 31 nested within the companion heavy spring, and made ofthe same length. Between the uppermost groups of shock absorbingsprings, an upper or rear spacing plate or disk=38 is arranged, asimilar spacing plate or disk '39 is arranged between the lowermost orforemost group of absorbing springs and the front head 28 of thecylinder, and anintermediate spacing plate or disk40 is arranged betweeneach' endmost spring group and the adjacent intermediate spring group.By these means the downward or forward pressure of the piston istransmitted through the several springgroups to th'e'lower or fronthead-of the cylinderand thus cushions the shock or blow which istransmitted from the crown pulleyhead !8 to the-derrick as the drill isjerked upwardly by the spuddingmechanism. Means are provided forpreventing the springs of each group from being closed or compressed tothe fullest extent and also maintaining the coils of the several groupsin axial alinement relative to each other. i

This is preferably accomplished'by providing the rearmost spacing plate38 with a central tubular retaining neck 4| which projects downwardlytherefrom into the. center of the upper or rearmost group or cluster ofabsorbing springs, also providing the lower or foremost spacing plate 39with a central tubular retaining neck 42 which projects upwardly intothe center of the'lower or'foremost group or cluster of absorbing springand also providing each of the intermediate spacing plates 40 onopposite sides of its central part with atubular retaining neck 43 whichprojects axially therefrominto the center. of the corresponding opposingends of the intermediate groups-or clusters of absorbing springs 36;These retaining necks are of such length that their opposing endsthereof form stops which engage one another before the groups ofabsorbing springs are completely compressed and thus prevent thesesprings from becoming set and lose their resilience. Controlling meansare provided whereby some of the liquid in the pressure chamber duringthe downward or forward pressure of the piston against the same ispermitted to escape and be utilized to subsequently assist inabsorbingthe shock on the machine during the upward or rearward movement of thepistonas the spudding mechanism releases the drill and permits the sameto descend. These controlling means in their preferred form areconstructed as follows:

.The piston rod 34 is made hollow and its interior provides a reliefchamber 44 the lower or front part of which communicates by conduitmeans with the rear end of the pressure chamber and adapted tointerchange fluid or oil with. the latter while its up er or rear partisprovided with a vent opening 45 leading to theouter atmosphere formaintaininga balance between the air 'prescylinder 'lli through the oilreturn pipe 62 and pipe 34 and finally through the opening out of thesystem. v

Inthe lower or front part of the relief chamber in the pistonrodisarranged a check valve device whereby liquid is permitted to flowcomparatively freely from the pressure chamber into a relief chamberduring the downward or forward movement ofthe piston 33 in the pressurechamber 21 but restricts the rate ofc return flow of liquid from therelief chamber to the pressure chamber during the upward movement of thepiston in the pressure chamber. This check valve device ineludes a valvering I engaging its periphery with the bore of the piston rod 34 andprovided with a central port and an upwardly or'rearwardly facingannular valve seat 4! on its upper side.

The numeral 48' represents "a check valve closure which is arranged inthe-tubular piston rod above the check valve ring and is movable axiallytherein toward and from the valveseat 41 for-the purpose of engaging aforwardly facing seat 49 on the underside of the check valve closurewith the ring se'at4! ordisengaging the same 7 therefrom The valve ring"'1 is secured against movement in the piston rodand thelvalve closure 48is guided relative to the valve ringby a frame or holder'which ispreferablyof U shape and provided with two longitudinal-legs 50 engagingthe inner side ofthe piston rod and a cross bar 5'] connecting the innerends 'of' these legs. The latter are preferablysecured to the piston redby means of welding 52 applied to the opposingsurface betweenthese-members through openings 53 in the piston rod as'shown in Fig. 4,although this maybe accomplished in any'other suitable or approvedmanner. The valve ring is secured to the legs 50 so as to be immovablein the piston rod, preferably by engaging the legs 50 of "the holderwith notches 55-on diametrically opposite sides of the periphery of thevalve ring and welding the ring and legs together as shown at 56 in Fig.4. The valve closure is guided in its axial movements by providing thisclosure on opposite.

sides of its periphery with notches 5'! which slidingly receive the legs'50 of this holderas shown in Fig. 4, 5, and 6.

In the preferred construction the outer side of the legs 50 of theholder are curved concentrically relative to the bore of the piston andengage therewith, as shown at 58 in Figs. 5 and 6, and the periphery ofthe valve closure 'also 'engages with this bore; as shown at 59 in thesame figures. v I a .On its periphery the valve closure is provided witha plurality of notches 50 forming intermittently openable relief ortransfer ports which are covered or closed by the peripheral part'of'the valve ring when the closure is in its lower or foremost'position, asshown in Figs..3 and 4, but areop-ened when ,this closure is movedupwardly or away from the valve ring. In its central part sure in therelief chamber above the oil'therein 7 the valve closure is providedwith a constantly openrelief or transfer port's! which is preferablyformed in a tube 52 arranged axially within the piston rod and havingits lower or front'e'nd connected with the valve closure and openingconstantly into the j'pressure'chambe'r while its upper end-is guided inthe central part of the cross bar 5| of the'holder andopens constantlyinto the-relief chamber above the checkvalvedevicel The valve closure isyieldingly held in its foremost or closed position by a helical spring63 surrounding the tube 62 and bearing at its lower and upper endsrespectively against the valve closure and the cross bar of the holder.On its rear side the valve closure is preferably provided with a tubularcollar or socket 64 which surrounds the front part of the spring 63 andholds the same in a central position relative to the valve closure andthus cause this spring to always operate most effectively in closingthis valve.

Assuming that the pressure chamber has been filled with the requiredamount of oil and that the drilling machine is at rest with the drilllowered and the piston 33 in the upper or rear part of the pressurechamber the complete cycle of operation of the shock absorbing mechanismis as follows:

As the piston is forced downwardly in the pressure chamber by thespudding mechanism while raising the string of drilling tools theabsorbed springs 36, 31 are compressed and absorb part of the energy ofthe jerk or work expended on them during this operation. Another part ofthis blow is absorbed by the resistance or work done as the result ofthe piston 33 in its descent, displacing some of the oil from the lowerpart of the presure chamber into the relief chamber through theconstantly open transfer port El and through the intermittently openablepassage which is controlled by the check valve closure 48. The latter isopened at this time by the resistance of the oil in the pressure chamberagainst the underside of this valve closure, whereby the latter islifted from the seat 41 and permits oil to flow upwardly through thevalve ring and through the notches 60 in the valve closure and. into therelief chamber in the hollow piston rod above the check valve device.The remaining part of this blow is absorbed by the work done in creatinga vacuum in the upper part of the pressure chamber in the wake of thepiston during its downward stroke.

During the subsequent upward or return stroke of the piston in thepressure chamber as the spudding mechanism releases the drill andpermits the same to descend, part of the energy stored in the absorbersprings during the previous compression of the same by the piston isexpanded in again pushing the latter upwardly by the recoil action ofthese springs. At this instance the check valve closure 48 is closed bythe action of the spring 63 aided by gravity and the weight of the oilabove the same, thereby creating a vacuum in its wake and compressingthe oil in the upper part of the pressure chamber and forcing the samepast the piston into the lower part of this chamber, thereby absorbingshock and vibration of the apparatus during this part of its operation.As the piston rises in the pressure chamber some of the oil in therelief chamber returns from the same through the constantly open port 6|in the check valve closure to the pressure chamber, but at a slower ratethan the flow of oil from the pressure chamber to the relief chamber,thereby contributing to the effect of absorbing shock on the apparatusat this time. These several oil resistance effects on the piston whilethe same is travelling upwardly in the pressure chamber operate inopposition to the recoiling action of the absorber springs andcompletely deaden the force of these springs by the time this pistonreaches the upper end of its travel in a starting position preparatoryto beginning the next following downward stroke. In consequence of thisretarding eifect of the oil, no secondary wave action from the travel ofthe piston takes place.

Due to venting, the air space in the upper part of the relief chamberthrough the opening 45 to the outer atmosphere, the air pressure withinthe relief chamber and the outer atmosphere is equalized and building upof air resistance or parasite pressure inside of the main pressurechamber is prevented.

I claim as my invention:

In a spudding drilling machine having a frame, a derrick rising fromsaid frame and a crown sheave vertically movably mounted on the upperend of said derrick, the combination there with of a shock absorberoperatively interposed between said crown sheave and said derrick,comprising a cylinder operatively connected at its lower end to saidderrick and filled with liquid, 2. plunger reciprocable in saidcylinder, a hollow piston rod operatively connecting said piston to saidcrown sheave and having its interior in communication with that of saidcylinder and being vented to the atmosphere, shock absorbing springmeans arranged in said cylinder between said plunger and the lower endof said cylinder, and a liquid retarding valve device arranged in saidpiston rod and constructed to retard the flow of liquid from said hollowpiston rod into said cylinder during the upward movement of said plungerin said cylinder and to permit the liquid to flow more freely from saidcylinder into said hollow piston rod during the downward movement ofsaid plunger in said cylinder, said retarding valve device comprising aU-shaped guide member having two longitudinal legs engaging said hollowpiston rod and secured thereto and a cross bar connecting said legs, avalve ring secured to said legs and having an upwardly facing annularvalve seat, a check valve member having guide notches receiving saidlegs and movable toward and away from said seat and being fluted on itsperiphery to provide liquid by-pass ports and having at its center anupstanding tube providing a passage through said check valve member,said tube extending through a guide opening provided in said cross part,and a spring interposed between said check valve member and cross bar tourge said check valve member yieldingly against said seat.

NICHOLAS N. LABOUNSKY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 988,382 Phelan Apr. 4, 19111,159,347 Angeli Nov. 9, 1915 1,464,524 Gilmour Aug. 14, 1923 1,572,060Yarnall Feb. 9, 1926 1,902,421 Rawdon et al. Mar. 21, 1933 1,961,634Faunton June 5, 1934 2,146,089 Onions Feb. 7, 1939 2,182,581 Casper Dec.5, 1939 2,185,802 De Port Jan. 2, 1940 2,244,373 Powers June 3, 19412,310,570 Briggs Feb. 9, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 45,059France Mar. 11, 1935

